On Eid SSA teachers protest for salaries, threaten indefinite lockout

ESS AHMAD. Dated: 6/10/2018 10:18:01 AM

SRINAGAR, June 9: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan teachers on Saturday held massive protest demonstrations at district headquarters against the non-payment of their salaries for last three to four months. Reports reaching here from different districts including Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Budgam, Kupwara and other districts said that thousands of teachers working under the central sponsored scheme, SSA in government run educational institutions stayed away from their respective schools and assembled at their respective district headquarters. Raising slogans in favour of their demands, the teachers held strong protests seeking release of their salaries with all the benefits of 7th pay commission. In Anantnag, hundreds of teachers including females gathered near sports stadium and then marched towards deputy commissioner’s office. The protesting teachers were carrying placards which read 'Hamari mehnat tumhari loot Nahi chale gee, Nahi chale gee' (Our hard work and your plunder of money is unacceptable) and 'Delink SSA salary'. The unpaid teachers also staged a sit-in outside DC office on the main road halting traffic movement for half an hour in the busy market after the authorities closed the DC office gate. The administration later opened the gate and allowed the teachers to enter the premises where they resorted to intense sloganeering for more than an hour. Various representatives of teachers speaking on the occasion warned of indefinite lockdown after Eid if government fails to meet their demands."It is a shame for the rulers of the time that the teachers considered to be builders of nation are on roads for their salaries in the auspicious occasion of Eid. We don't have even the money to buy clothes for our children and the children of rulers and bureaucrats will spend thousands of rupees on toys," said one of the teachers speaking on the occasion. The teachers later submitted a memorandum to deputy commissioner Anantnag and insisted him to convey the same to the government. In Pulwama and Kulgam, hundreds of teachers gathered at their respective district headquarters and held massive protests on the call of various teachers unions including Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum led by Abdul Qayoom Wani and Jammu and Kashmir Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum. The protesting teachers resorted to sloganeering against the government and in favour of their demands. Reports of similar protests by SSA teachers were received from other district headquarters as well. The protests were led by district presidents and zonal presidents of various teachers unions. Speakers, during the protest, urged the leaders of different teachers unions to be united to fight the injustice meted out to the teachers.